Background: PDE12 degrades 2′,5′-oligoadenylate, a second messenger involved in the antiviral action of interferon. Results: Inactivation of the PDE12 gene and novel inhibitors of the enzyme render cells resistant to more than one virus. Conclusion: PDE12 negatively regulates the innate immune response, and inhibitors of PDE12 have antiviral activity. Significance: PDE12 inhibitors have the potential to be broadly acting antiviral medicines. 2′,5′-Oligoadenylate synthetase (OAS) enzymes and RNase-L constitute a major effector arm of interferon (IFN)-mediated antiviral defense. OAS produces a unique oligonucleotide second messenger, 2′,5′-oligoadenylate (2–5A), that binds and activates RNase-L. This pathway is down-regulated by virus- and host-encoded enzymes that degrade 2–5A. Phosphodiesterase 12 (PDE12) was the first cellular 2–5A- degrading enzyme to be purified and described at a molecular level. Inhibition of PDE12 may up-regulate the OAS/RNase-L pathway in response to viral infection resulting in increased resistance to a variety of viral pathogens. We generated a PDE12-null cell line, HeLaΔPDE12, using transcription activator-like effector nuclease-mediated gene inactivation. This cell line has increased 2–5A levels in response to IFN and poly(I-C), a double-stranded RNA mimic compared with the parental cell line. Moreover, HeLaΔPDE12 cells were resistant to viral pathogens, including encephalomyocarditis virus, human rhinovirus, and respiratory syncytial virus. Based on these results, we used DNA-encoded chemical library screening to identify starting points for inhibitor lead optimization. Compounds derived from this effort raise 2–5A levels and exhibit antiviral activity comparable with the effects observed with PDE12 gene inactivation. The crystal structure of PDE12 complexed with an inhibitor was solved providing insights into the structure-activity relationships of inhibitor potency and selectivity.

ABSTRACT To identify novel antivirals to the hepatitis C virus (HCV) NS4B protein, we utilized encoded library technology (ELT), which enables purified proteins not amenable to standard biochemical screening methods to be tested against large combinatorial libraries in a short period of time. We tested NS4B against several DNA-encoded combinatorial libraries (DEL) and identified a single DEL feature that was subsequently progressed to off-DNA synthesis. The most active of the initial synthesized compounds had 50% inhibitory concentrations (IC 50 s) of 50 to 130 nM in a NS4B radioligand binding assay and 300 to 500 nM in an HCV replicon assay. Chemical optimization yielded compounds with potencies as low as 20 nM in an HCV genotype 1b replicon assay, 500 nM against genotype 1a, and 5 μM against genotype 2a. Through testing against other genotypes and genotype 2a-1b chimeric replicons and from resistance passage using the genotype 1b replicon, we confirmed that these compounds were acting on the proposed first transmembrane region of NS4B. A single sequence change (F98L) was identified as responsible for resistance, and it was thought to largely explain the relative lack of potency of this series against genotype 2a. Unlike other published series that appear to interact with this region, we did not observe sensitivity to amino acid substitutions at positions 94 and 105. The discovery of this novel compound series highlights ELT as a valuable approach for identifying direct-acting antivirals to nonenzymatic targets.

A series of imidazo[1,2-a]pyridines which directly bind to HCV Non-Structural Protein 4B (NS4B) is described. This series demonstrates potent in vitro inhibition of HCV replication (EC50 < 10 nM), direct binding to purified NS4B protein (IC50 < 20 nM), and an HCV resistance pattern associated with NS4B (H94N/R, V105L/M, F98L) that are unique among reported HCV clinical assets, suggestive of the potential for additive or synergistic combination with other small molecule inhibitors of HCV replication.

AbstractChemInform is a weekly Abstracting Service, delivering concise information at a glance that was extracted from about 100 leading journals. To access a ChemInform Abstract of an article which was published elsewhere, please select a “Full Text” option. The original article is trackable via the “References” option.

A novel class of pyrrolidinyl-acetyleneic thieno[3,2-d]pyrimidines has been identified which potently inhibit the EGFR and ErbB-2 receptor tyrosine kinases. Synthetic modifications of the pyrrolidine carbamate moiety result in a range of effects on enzyme and cellular potency. In addition, the impact of the absolute stereochemical configuration on cellular potency and oral mouse pharmacokinetics is described.

A series of thiophene PLK1 inhibitors was optimized for increased solubility and reduced protein binding through the appendage of basic amine functionality. Interesting selectivity between PLK1 and PLK3 was also obtained through these modifications.

Corrigendum to ‘‘Design of potent thiophene inhibitors of polo-like kinase 1 with improved solubility and reduced protein binding” [Bioorg. Med. Chem. Lett. 19 (2009) 1694] Kyle A. Emmitte *, George M. Adjabeng , C. Webb Andrews , Jennifer G. Badiang Alberti , Ramesh Bambal , Stanley D. Chamberlain , Ronda G. Davis-Ward , Hamilton D. Dickson , Daniel F. Hassler , Keith R. Hornberger , Jeffrey R. Jackson , Kevin W. Kuntz , Timothy J. Lansing , Robert A. Mook Jr. , Kristen E. Nailor , Mark A. Pobanz , Stephon C. Smith , Chiu-Mei Sung , Mui Cheung c

A mild and efficient one-pot protocol for the synthesis of 1,3,4-oxadiazoles from carboxylic acids and acylhydrazides was developed. Diacylhydrazide formation via HATU coupling followed by addition of Burgess reagent afforded the corresponding 1,3,4-oxadiazoles in 63–96% yields at room temperature. The reaction conditions are tolerant of a variety of functional groups, including esters, nitriles, alkynes, olefins, alkyl halides, phenols, carbamates and sulfonamides.

Aniline 'headgroups' were synthesized and incorporated into an alkynyl thienopyrimidine series of EGFR and ErbB-2 inhibitors. Potent inhibition of enzyme activity and cellular proliferation was observed. In certain instances, protein binding was reduced and oral exposure was found to be somewhat improved relative to compounds containing the reference aniline.

The discovery and development of a series of thiophenes as potent and selective inhibitors of PLK is described. Identification and characterization of 2, a useful in vitro PLK inhibitor tool compound, is also presented.

CHEMISTRY, BIOCHEMISTRY. For the article ‘‘6-Ethynylthieno[3,2-d]and 6-ethynylthieno[2,3-d]pyrimidin-4-anilines as tunable covalent modifiers of ErbB kinases,’’ by Edgar R. Wood, Lisa M. Shewchuk, Byron Ellis, Perry Brignola, Ronald L. Brashear, Thomas R. Caferro, Scott H. Dickerson, Hamilton D. Dickson, Kelly H. Donaldson, Michael Gaul, Robert J. Griffin, Anne M. Hassell, Barry Keith, Robert Mullin, Kimberly G. Petrov, Michael J. Reno, David W. Rusnak, Sarva M. Tadepalli, John C. Ulrich, Craig D. Wagner, Dana E. Vanderwall, Alex G. Waterson, Jon D. Williams, Wendy L. White, and David E. Uehling, which appeared in issue 8, February 26, 2008, of Proc Natl Acad Sci USA (105:2773–2778; first published February 19, 2008; 10.1073 pnas.0708281105), the authors note that, in Fig. 3B, a green block obscures the ligand. The corrected figure and its legend appear below.

Analysis of the x-ray crystal structure of mono-substituted acetylenic thienopyrimidine 6 complexed with the ErbB family enzyme ErbB-4 revealed a covalent bond between the terminal carbon of the acetylene moiety and the sulfhydryl group of Cys-803 at the solvent interface. The identification of this covalent adduct suggested that acetylenic thienopyrimidine 6 and related analogs might also be capable of forming an analogous covalent adduct with EGFR, which has a conserved cysteine (797) near the ATP binding pocket. To test this hypothesis, we treated a truncated, catalytically competent form of EGFR (678-1020) with a structurally related propargylic amine (8). An investigation of the resulting complex by mass spectrometry revealed the formation of a covalent complex of thienopyrimidine 8 with Cys-797 of EGFR. This finding enabled us to readily assess the irreversibility of various inhibitors and also facilitated a structure-activity relationship understanding of the covalent modifying potential and biological activity of a series of acetylenic thienopyrimidine compounds with potent antitumor activity. Several ErbB family enzyme and cell potent 6-ethynyl thienopyrimidine kinase inhibitors were found to form covalent adducts with EGFR.

A one-pot synthesis of disubstituted benzimidazoles from 2-nitroanilines is described. Hydrogenation of N-substituted 2-nitroanilines with palladium on carbon as catalyst in the presence of trimethyl orthoformate and catalytic pyridinium p-toluenesulfonate (PPTS) at room temperature provided good to excellent yields of the corresponding disubstituted benzimidazoles.

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